Journal of Clinical & Experimental Pathology
Open Access

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Carcinoma of unknown primary origin is a diverse group of cancers that is defined by the presence of metastatic disease with no identified primary tumor at initial presentation. Positive estrogen and progesterone receptors are suggestive of breast cancer. However, negative ER/PR do not exclude the diagnosis of breast cancer, but other malignancies such as colon, ovary, endometrium, kidney, and melanoma may show detectable ER/PR positivity. Carcinoembryonic antigen, CA125, and ER assay are not specific. This study aims to evaluate and compare mammaglobin and NY-BR-1 staining in identification of metastatic breast carcinoma with well known history as well as their staining in primary breast carcinomas and their simultaneous nodal metastasis. Materials and Methods: Immunostaining of mammaglobin and NY-BR-1 were done for archival cases of 24 primary breast carcinomas and their simultaneous axillary nodal metastasis, 4 axillary nodal metastasis of occult carcinomas, 6 supraclavicular nodal metastasis, 14 cell blocks of positive pleural effusions and 8 tru cut biopsies of post mastectomy chest wall masses all with past history of breast carcinoma. Results: NY-BR-1 showed more positivity rate in both primary and metastatic breast carcinomas than mammaglobin. There was no significant difference between NY-BR-1 and mammaglobin expression in primary breast carcinomas while there was a significant difference between both in metastatic breast carcinomas. Conclusion: NY-BR-1 and mammaglobin can help in identification of mammary origin of metastatic carcinoma however NYBR- 1 is easier to use and interpret in suspected metastatic breast carcinomas.

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